Film Technology Notes

Digital technology encompasses many of the new forms of filmmaking, including production, distribution and exhibition. It has also altered the delivery of the film, and in turn this has had an impact on:

·         Cost

·         Use of new technologies

·         Quality

·         Digital Rights Management (DRM)

CGI

James Cameron and Avatar

·         Use of “image based facial performance capture” to get realistic human facial movements projected onto a virtual CGI character on screen.

·         Avatar was 70% CGI, rendered by Weta Digital (LOTR, King Kong, District 9)

·         Rendering is the process of converting 3D wire frame models into 2D images, followed by adding the 3D photorealistic effects via computer.

·         A huge team of artists worked for over a year to transfer the renderings; every minute detail was taken care of, by rendering every tree, rock, or leaf individually.

·         James Cameron- Stereoscopic 3D fusion camera, virtual camera and simul-cam.

·         Motion capture results taken in real time

·         Integration of the CGI characters and the environments into one single fusion eye piece with the help of simul-cam.

·         The virtual camera acted as a virtual monitor that allowed the director to judge the overall effect of the final cut of the film. Reducing time needed in post production to edit.

·         It took 4 years to make Avatar, and cost $237 million and around $200 million to market. The sequel is due out in 2014.

Digital Distribution

DD is the practice of delivering content without the use of physical media, this can be downloading via the internet or straight to your TV with “On Demand”.



The Film Industry- Distribution and Marketing Notes

Distribution is the highly competitive business of launching and sustaining films in the market place. Films don’t become well known by accident. The distributors challenge is to bring each one to market to realise its full potential

 
Stages:

Acquisition
Slates or single films from a parent studio or independently via a sales agent or production company

Release strategy
Plan the release – key decisions include when, who for and how/where promoted

Marketing
Implement the release – advertising, publicity, promotional/media partners, premiere, online content, making & supplying 35mm and/or digital prints, film by film

Accountability
Acting under license, report back to rights holders

}How do distributors aquire films?

 

A third-party sales agent acting on behalf of a producer

}A continuous flow of new content from a parent studio

}A studio or production company with whom the distributor has negotiated an output deal covering a bundle of titles

}A single title acquired at any stage during or after production

}

 

The Film Industry- Exhibtion Notes

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The Film Industry- Production Notes

Three stages of production

¢These are: Pre-Production, Production & Post-Production

¢ 

• Pre-Production consists of all ideas generation, script writing securing finance, identifying key personnel such as director and producer, hiring crew, writing contracts, casting, location scouting, sourcing costumes/props, acquiring film stock etc.

¢ It is essentially everything that has to happen before shooting can commence 

 

 

• ¢Post-Production includes editing and application of any CGI. Editing can be a lengthy task as it involves reviewing all rushes or footage from the shoot and making decisions about inclusion and sequencing.

¢Following the edit, sound would also be added. It is important that the sound is in sync with the images (ADR – Audio Digital Replacement). Music may also be added.

 

 

   

Finance

 

The first stage of any films production is the attempt to secure financial backing

• The production company must generate confidence in the potential revenue of the planned film
• ¢They hope this will persuade investors to back their film   

The Package

¢1. A script treatment

¢This can run up to 10 pages in length.

¢It contains information concerning the storyline, characters and locations.

¢

¢2. The generic profile of the film.

¢This will help the potential investor ‘place’ the film within the marketplace.

¢This will also discuss the genre of the film, and the expected elements involved within this specific genre.

¢3. The proposed budget of the film.

¢Investors need to know what their potential outlay might be.

¢The package will contain a breakdown of the films proposed budget.

¢

¢4. Visual representation of key scenes.

¢This will help potential investors visualise the proposed film.

¢The package will contain storyboard frames for key narrative moments. 

¢5. Key personnel.

¢If the film already has a director or actors attached, and they have already had box-office success then the inclusion of there names will act as an encouragement to potential investors.

¢The package could also include potential actors or directors, but this would be more speculative and may make investors wary.

¢

¢6. Potential spin-offs, merchandising and tie-ins.

¢Investor may want to know the potential overall return they could expect to make on their investment. 

 

¢There are two types of costs that are incurred during the film-making process.

¢Firstly, ‘above the line’ costs.

¢These include: salaries and fees for the film’s stars, director and personnel.

¢These are fixed and do not change during production.